Heinze move to Liverpool on hold

A Premier League arbitration panel are today expected to deliver their verdict on whether Manchester United defender Gabriel Heinze should be allowed to join Liverpool.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and chief executive David Gill yesterday travelled to a tribunal in London.

The Argentina defender has asked for a three-man panel to decide whether United gave him permission to leave the club for an agreed fee.

Heinze wants to join Liverpool and claims he has a letter from United allowing him to leave if a club offered a fee of £6.8million.

However, United maintain they made it clear to Heinze both orally and by letter that he would not be permitted to join one of their title rivals in the top flight.

A verdict was expected yesterday but shortly after 6.30pm it became clear that nothing would be forthcoming until today.